Injector for powdered materials



May 27,1952 A. R. CONSTANTINE 2,598,227

INJECTOR FOR POWDERED MATERIALS Filed March 12, 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet l INVEN TOR.

ARTHUR R. c2222. BY 77/20 ATTORNEY.

Filed March 12, 1948 y 1952 A. R. CONSTANTINE 2,598,227

- INJECTOR FOR POWDERED MATERIALS 6 Sheets-Shet z IN VEN TOR.

ARTHUR R. CON TANTINE.

BY P

ATTORNE x y 1952 A. R. CONSTANTINE I 2,598,227

INJECTOR FOR POWDERED MATERIALS Filed March'12, 1948 6 insets-Sheet 3 t3 9 2 EMF- IIIIIIIIIIII III IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII I 111111111111111 IIIIIIIIIIIIII\\\\\ INVENTOR ART HU R R. CONSTANTINE.

ATTORNE K May 27, 1952 A. R. CONSTYANTINE 2,598,227

' INJECTOR FOR POWDERED MATERIALS Filed March 12, 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet 4ATTORNE Y.

ARTHUR IQ-CO STANTlNE.

May 27, 1952 A. R. CONSTANTINE INJECTOR FOR POWDERED MATERIALS FiledMarch 12, 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN V EN TOR.

ARTHUR R. CONSTAN'HNE,

BY W/WM A TTORNEY.

y 7, 1952 A. R. CONSTANTINE 2,598,227

INJECTOR FOR POWDERED MATERIALS Filed March 12, 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet 6INVENTOR.

ARTHUR R. CONSTANTINE A TTORNEX Patented May 27, 1952 nunoron FORPOWDERED MATERIALS Arthur R. Constantine, South Bend, 11:11., assignor,by mcsne assignments, to Avco Manufacturing Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Application March 12, 1948, Serial No.14,492

This invention relates to injecting or dispensing devices for powderedor similar material. The mechanism discussed and described herein hasbeen particularly designed for injecting detergent materials such assoap or other similar material into-the water and clothes containingdrum or tub of a textile washing machine.

In order to accomplish the purpose of injecting a fixed measuredquantity of material in a given time into a washing machine tub it isimportant that a fixed amount of material be carried from a supplyhopper to the ejecting end of the mechanism. Furthermore, as the outletor ejecting end of the unit must necessarily be in communication withthe water containing tub it is necessary that the end be closed as soonas material has stopped as otherwise moisture would cause the materialto become caked and would in all probability prevent subsequentoperation, particularly if the next operation would beat a much latertime. It is also important that the hopper containing material be soarranged that a uniform feed of material can be assured into theejecting mechanism. Experiments with granular, flake and powderedmaterial of the type used in Washing machines led to the deliniteconclusion that there was a problemto be solved as such material had atendency to form openings or cavities preventing satisfactory feed ofthe material unless agitation of the material in the hopper wasprovided. It is also necessary, if a definite measured quantity ofmaterial is to be handled in a given time, thatthe electrical mechanismfor placing the ejector in operation shall be positive and can beaccomplished without undue complications or delay vbymerely closing anelectrical circuit to the ejector mechanism.

It is therefore the primary object of the invention to provide aninjecting device with a positive closure at its outlet combined withpositive agitation in the supply hopper. Y

It is a further object to provide an ejecting mechanism and a drivecapable ,of actuation by an electrically operated solenoid orothersuitable means providing positive starting and stopping of theinjection at a measured time.

The above and other objects of the invention will appear more fully inthe following description and by reference to the accompanying drawingsforming a part hereof and wherein;

Figure 1 is a side view of a. washing machine partially in section withthe detergent injector mechanism mounted thereon.

Figure 2' is the rearview of the washing machine and detergentinjectorassemblyshown in Figurel. l

2 Claims. (01. 222-413 Figure 3 is a top view partially in sectionshowing the general arrangement of the injector mechanism including theoutlet, the drive pulley, and actuating mechanism.

Figure 4 is a section on the line 44 of Figure 3 showing the centralportions of the clutch mechanism for starting the injector in operation.

Figure 5'is a side view of the injector mechanism showing a side view ofthe assembly as is shown in Figure 3.

Figure 6 is an end View of the injector assembly and shows the actuatingsolenoid and certain portions of the drive mechanism including the gearfor the agitator and solenoid actuator. v Figure 7 is a cross, sectionthrough the supply hopper showing the agitator mounted therein and is asection taken substantially on the line 'l-'! of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is an end view showing the outlet of the injector with cut-offblade in the position it would occupy when powdered material is beingejected from the mechanism. Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 8except inthis case the outlet is closed by the cut-01f blade to preventmoisture from entering the outlet end of the injector.

Referring to the drawings, an injector assembly I0 is shown in Figures 1and 2 mounted on the outer wall of a tub I I, which tubforms a part ,ofa washing machine of the automatic horizontal axis type. As shownparticularly in Figures 3 and 4 a detergent or powdered materialcontaining hopper I2 is so formed at the bottom portion thereof toprovide a cylindrical housing I3 for a rotatable feed screw H, thehousing l3 having an open side for communication with hopper l2. Thefeed screw I4 is secured to and rotated by a shaft I 5 from a pulley I6,the pulley I 6 .being rotated. in turn by a belt'l'l from a pulley I8which is concentric with and which is secured to rotate with the washermain driving pulley [9 (Fig. 2)..

As shown in Figures 3 and 5, an outlet end 2t of the feed screw housingI 3 projects into a housing assembly 2| which opens into the tub I I. Inorder to close the outlet end 20 of the feed screw housing l3, a cut-01fblade 22 is provided. The cut-ofi blade 22 is secured to and swings witha shaft23 ina plane perpendicular to the axis of the feed screw I4 andthe cut-off blade 22 is normally held firmly against the outlet end 20of the feed screw housing [3 by the action of a spring 24 which pressesagainst the cut-off blade 22 and which is supported by a bracket 25 alsoattachedto the shaft 23. Such action of the cut- .Ofi blade shears ofimaterial which may adhere to the edge of outlet 23 leaving a surfaceparallel to the blade surface to provide a satisfactory seal. As can beseen from inspection of Figure 3, the shaft 23 is normally urged in adirection to close the cut-off blade 22 over the outlet 23 by the actionof a return spring 25A. However, the end of shaft 23 opposite the end towhich the cut-off blade 22 is secured is provided with a lever 26 shownin Figure 6 which is connected to the armature of solenoid 21 by meansof a solenoid link 28. Actuation of the solenoid 2? by closing of switch21A will move the lever 23, thereby rotating the shaft 23 and attachedcutoff blade 22 to open the otlet end 29 of the feed screw housing I3 asshown in Figure 9. If, for any reason, the current to the solenoid 2? iscut off, the return spring 25A rotates the shaft 23 back to its originalposition to again close the cut-off blade 22 over the outlet 23 as shownin Figure 8, any excess powdered material being sheared off by theshearing action of cut-off blade 22 on the end of outlet 20 leaving aparallel surface for closure by blade 22.

As shown in Figures 3, 4 and the pulley it which provides the drivingmeans for the feed screw I4 through the shaft I5 also provides power forrotating an agitator shaft 29 through a small gear 36 carried on theshaft I5 and a large gear 3I secured to the end of the agitator shaft23.

The shaft 29 is mounted inside the hopper I2 and above and parallel tothe feed screw 54, and as shown in Figure 7, forms an axis for aplurality of wires 32, 33, 34 and 35 which extend radially from theshaft 29 along the sides of the hopper I2 and which are bent to extendacross the width of the hopper I2 and parallel to the feed screw I l,thereby forming agitators for the detergent contained in the hopper I2,the wires swinging close to the feed screw I4 in order that thedetergent will be continually kept in a loose condition enabling it tofall into the feed screw it. This type of mechanism for agitation,although relatively simple in its final arrangement, was found to bevery important in connection with the operation of the device asagitation adjacent the feed screw was necessary to insure proper feedingof the material.

As shown in Figure 6 the end of a hub 36 of the pulley I6 is providedwith a multiplicity of slots 31 which are designed to receive a pin 38mounted in a transverse hole based in the end of the shaft I5. As isapparent from inspection of Figures 3, 4, and 5, the pulley I6 willrotate the feed screw I4 and agitator shaft 29 only when the hub 36 ofthe pulley I6 is pushed up against the pin 38 to enable the pin 38 tofit into one of the slots 31 in the hub 36. Pushing of the hub 36 isaccomplished by means of a cam 39 which is positioned between a housing46 of the feed screw shaft I5 and hub 36. The cam 36 is attached to thelever 26 by means of a connecting rod M in such a manner that actuationof the solenoid 21 will rotate the cam 39 on the housing 40. The cam 39is so formed that when rotated by the lever 26 it will push the hub 36and the pulley I6 toward the pin 38, thereby causing the pin 33 to fitinto one of the slots 31 in the hub 36. A projection 42 on the housing40 prevents the cam 39 from movingin the opposite direction toward thehopper I2 and acts as a member against which cam 39 reacts. A spring 40Ashown in Figure 4 normally urges hub 36 toward the left as viewed inFigure 4.

The top of the hopper I2 is provided with an opening 43 through whichthe hopper I2 may be filled with powdered detergent. Assuming that thehopper I2 has been filled, the soap injector will not operate unless thesolenoid 21 has been actuated. Upon the actuation of the solenoid 2? byclosing of a suitable electrical circuit the solenoid link 28 moves thelever 26 to rotate the shaft 23, thereby causing the attached cutoffblade 22 to move in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figures 8 and 9to the open position shown in Figure 8. Two guide members 44 and 35provide a surface upon which the cut-off blade 22 slides and issupported.

Simultaneous with the opening of the cut-off blade 22 there isengagement of the pin 38 with one of the notches 31 in the pulley 36 tocause shaft to rotate with the continuously rotating pulley I6 and hub36. This is accomplished. as previously described, by means of the lever26, which, upon actuation of the solenoid 21, moves the cam 39 in adirection to force the hub 36 towards the pin 38. In order to affordresiliency to the connection AI between the lever 26 and the cam 39, aspring 46 is provided which surrounds the connecting rod 4L 7 Rotationof the shaft I5 causes the rotation of the agitators 32, 33, 34, and 35through the gears 36 and 31 and also causes the rotation of the feedscrew it. The rotating feed screw I4 acts to propel the powdereddetergent out the outlet end 23 of the feed screw housing, the cut-offblade 22 being open at all times when the feed screw I is rotating.Continuous rotation of the agitators 32, 33, 34, and 35 assures that thepowdered detergent contained in the hopper I2 will be kept in a loosecondition enabling it to fall into the feed screw It to replace thepowdered material extruded through the outlet end of the feed screwhousing l3. After extrusion the powdered detergent falls into thehousing assembly 21 which is in communication with the interior of thetub Ii in that water in the tub is permitted to splash into the housingassembly 2! enabling any detergent which might otherwise adhere to thewalls of the housing assembly 2I to be washed away. However, thisarrangement makes it necessary to seal any openings in the housing 2| inorder that water will not escape either outside the injector or come incontact with the powdered detergent contained in the hopper I2. This isaccomplished by means of a seal M which is provided at the point wherethe feed screw housing projects into the housing assembly 2I and by therubber sealor boot 43 which surrounds a portion of the shaft 23 where itprojects inside the housing assembly 2 I.

When sufficient detergent has been added to the water in the tub II, theoperation of the injector is stopped by cutting on the current supply tothe solenoid 21 such as by opening switch 21A. When the solenoid 21 isno longer actuated, the lever no longer holds the cam 39 against the hub36. The spring A urges the cam 39 in a direction away from the hub 36,thereby permitting the pin 38 on the shaft I5 to disengage from theslots 3! on the hub 36. Since the hub 36 and pulley I6 are then nolonger driving the shaft it, it is apparent that the attached feed screwI3 and the agitators 32, 33, 3.4 and 35,will also cease to rotate.Likewise the cut-oif'blade 22 is returned to the closed positionrshownin Figure 9 by the action of the returnspring25A and the outlet end 20is closed, thecut-oif blade 22 having sheared off powdered materialthereby assuring parallel contact and sealing of the outlet by thecut-off blade.

let of said housing and to move in shearing contact with said outlet,electro-magnetic means operable to cause actuation of said agitatingmember and to cause rotation of said feed screw, and connectionscooperating with said electromagnetic means to slide said blade to opensaid outlet at the start of said agitator and feed screw rotation and toslide said blade to close said outlet at the termination of saidagitator and said fed screw rotation.

2. In a detergent material injecting device or" the character described,a rotatable feed screw, a housing for said feed screw, an agitatingmember above said feed screw, an outlet at one end of said housing,drive means for said feed screw and said agitating member, a cut off anda sealing blade for said outlet moveable in a plane substantiallyperpendicular to the axis of rotation of said feed screw, and meanscooperating with said drive means operable to actuate said blade onstarting and stopping of said drive means thereby to shear off excesspowdered material and to provide a positive closure of said outlet andof said housing by said blade.

3. In an injecting mechanism, a hopper for storing material, anagitating member in said hopper, a feed screw housing below said hopperhaving an open side thereof in communication with said hopper, a feedscrew in said housing, driving mechanism for rotating said feed screw,electro-magnetic means operable to cause actuation of said drivingmeans, said feed screw housing having an outlet portion thereofextending from said hopper and being concentric with the axis ofrotation of said feed screw, sealing means adjacent said outlet operableto provide an opening of said outlet on the start of rotation of saidfeed screw and a closing of said outlet on stopping of rotation of saidfeed screw, and mechanism cooperating with said electro-magnetic meansto cause actuation of said sealing means.

ARTHUR R. CONSTANTINE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

